Winter Research Projects

Project duration and delivery

4 weeks at St. Lucia campus with hybrid working arrangements possible.
26 June 2023 – 21 July 2023.

Project overview and significance of the study

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) are the two most commonly used econometric methods for assessing the performance of decision-making units in numerous sectors of the economy. However, the healthcare sector presents a unique challenge when applying these methods due to the heterogeneity in quality. Addressing this heterogeneity is essential for improving the policy implications of these analyses. The aim of this project is to critically review the literature on approaches for accounting for quality heterogeneity in efficiency analysis of healthcare facilities. The project will then apply these approaches to a real dataset on public hospitals and assess their robustness.

Expected outcomes and deliverables

The applicants will gain skills and experience in:

• systematic and comprehensive literature review
• application of statistical techniques to a real-world dataset, including data preparation and interpretation of results
• efficiency analyses using DEA and SFA methods. (Efficiency analyses will be implemented in R statistical software.)
• academic writing.

The applicants will be involved in the drafting of a manuscript with the aim of using this project as a foundation for an academic paper. The applicants are also expected to present the outcomes of their work at the end of the project.

Suitable for:

This project is open to applications from students with backgrounds in economics. Knowledge of productivity and efficiency analysis (e.g., completing ECON3340/ECON7341 course) will be well regarded. Experience in using R statistical software is a plus.

Primary supervisors

Dr Bao Hoang Nguyen, Research Fellow, UQ Centre for the Business and Economics of Health.

Further information

For further information, please contact Dr Bao Hoang Nguyen at b.h.nguyen@uq.edu.au.

Project duration and delivery

Hours of engagement are 30 hrs per week (can be negotiated).
This project will be offered through a hybrid arrangement—on-site and remotely.

Project overview and significance of the study

This project seeks to examine the global evidence on the link between energy poverty and cardiovascular disease and other health outcomes. The study will generate a multidimensional index of energy poverty and analyse it along with the measures of cardiovascular disease across 80 countries. Evidence of this relationship has largely remained anecdotal so producing empirical evidence will contribute immensely to the literature.

Expected outcomes and deliverables

Scholars will gain skills in advanced data management and analyses using Stata and preparation of article draft into a paper for submission to a journal.

Suitable for:

This project is open to applications from students with an interest in Health Economics/Applied Economics and basic to advanced knowledge in STATA and econometric methods.

Primary supervisors

Dr Isaac Koomson.

Further information

Students can contact Dr Koomsen for additional details before applying, via i.koomson@uq.edu.au.

Project duration and delivery

For the Winter program, students will be engaged for 4 weeks. We envisage that students will be working on the program between 20 and 30 hours per week. The project location will be flexible, but some on-site and some off-site work will be required.

Project overview and significance of the study

The placement will be part of a larger study that investigates self-reported and objective measures of stress of workers in community pharmacy, and its relationship with the ability to practice safely. Part of the study includes an experience sampling survey that sends regular questionnaires to participants during their working hours, as well as measuring practicing pharmacists. The winter program student would take part in the project depending on its stage at the time of the placement, and may include data collection, data cleaning, analysis, or communication.

Expected outcomes and deliverables

Scholars are likely to gain additional skills in data collection and research project management. They may also learn about the specific data being used, which is experience sampling survey data as well as physiological data.

Suitable for:

The work is likely to involve communication with community pharmacists as study participants. Some firsthand research experience would be desirable, and students in advanced years of study (3rd year or in their postgraduate degree) may be better suited to the project. This is because they will take part in an overall complex study design, making it advisable to manage several research tasks in parallel.

While the research is around pharmacy, business, organisational psychology and health economics, students from related degrees may see a more natural fit with the project. However, any student with an interest in quantitative research and analysis should be able to contribute to the team.

Primary supervisors

Dr Jean Spinks, project lead.
Dr Jonas Fooken, project collaborator.

Further information

Interested students can contact researchers prior to applying via j.spinks@uq.edu.au or j.fooken@uq.edu.au.

A short description of the project can also be found here: Improving pharmacist wellbeing and enhancing medicine safety.